Supplementation Strategies to Supplementation Strategies to Recover Wild Coho SalmonRecover Wild Coho SalmonRecover Wild Coho Salmon Recover Wild Coho Salmon

in Snow Creek, WAin Snow Creek, WA

Presentation at Presentation at Upper Klamath River Coho Salmon WorkshopUpper Klamath River Coho Salmon Workshop

February 15February 15--16, 201216, 2012Yreka, CAYreka, CA

bybyThom Thom H. JohnsonH. Johnson

Point Point No Point Treaty No Point Treaty CouncilCouncilyy(retired from WA Dept. of Fish and Wildlife)(retired from WA Dept. of Fish and Wildlife)

OutlineOutlineSupplementation rationale and approach in Supplementation rationale and approach in

the Hood Canal/Strait of Juan de Fuca regionthe Hood Canal/Strait of Juan de Fuca regionthe Hood Canal/Strait of Juan de Fuca regionthe Hood Canal/Strait of Juan de Fuca region

Snow Creek coho supplementation programSnow Creek coho supplementation programSnow Creek coho supplementation programSnow Creek coho supplementation programExperimental Experimental designdesignMethodsMethodsEvaluationEvaluationResultsResults

Other regional supplementation programsOther regional supplementation programs

Supplementation Supplementation Rationale Rationale and and ApproachApproach

Was developed for ESAWas developed for ESA--listed summer chumlisted summer chumWas developed for ESAWas developed for ESA listed summer chum listed summer chum salmon supplementation programs as part of salmon supplementation programs as part of Summer Chum Salmon Conservation Initiative Summer Chum Salmon Conservation Initiative (SCSCI); it was applied to Snow Creek coho(SCSCI); it was applied to Snow Creek coho

Acknowledge Tim TynanAcknowledge Tim Tynan as lead authoras lead author

See supporting materials on workshop See supporting materials on workshop website for detailswebsite for details

Will synopsize SCSCI Section 3.2 hereWill synopsize SCSCI Section 3.2 here

Key Premise:Key Premise:yy•• Salmon Salmon populations threatened with populations threatened with

extinction can not be recovered to viableextinction can not be recovered to viableextinction can not be recovered to viable extinction can not be recovered to viable population levels with harvest and population levels with harvest and hatchery measures alonehatchery measures alonehatchery measures alone.hatchery measures alone.

•• ““Commensurate timely improvements in•• Commensurate, timely improvements in the condition of habitat critical for summer chum salmon survival are necessary tochum salmon survival are necessary to recover the listed populations to healthy levels.”

SCSCI Artificial Propagation StandardsSCSCI Artificial Propagation Standards

When to Supplement orWhen to Supplement or ReintroduceReintroduceWhen to Supplement or When to Supplement or ReintroduceReintroduce

When to Modify or Terminate aWhen to Modify or Terminate a ProgramProgramWhen to Modify or Terminate a When to Modify or Terminate a ProgramProgram

How to Supplement or How to Supplement or ReintroduceReintroduce

Monitoring and Monitoring and EvaluationEvaluation

HowHow to Supplement/Reintroduceto Supplement/Reintroduce

General and specific standards applied to:

• Address risks to natural origin fish (strategies adapted from Busack and Currens (1995), Cuenco et al.(1993), Kapuscinski and Miller (1993), Waples (1996) and Hard et al (1992)) andand Hard et al. (1992)), and

• Ensure the effectiveness of programs selected for implementation through the risk/benefitfor implementation through the risk/benefit assessment framework.

BenefitBenefit/Risk Assessment/Risk AssessmentBenefitBenefit/Risk Assessment/Risk Assessment

Benefits considered in the project assessment process:process:

• Reduce short term extinction risk• Preserve population while factors for decline are being• Preserve population while factors for decline are being

addressed• Speed recovery• Establish a reserve population for use if the natural

population suffers a catastrophic loss• Reseed vacant habitat capable of supporting salmon• Reseed vacant habitat capable of supporting salmon• Provide scientific information regarding the use of

supplementation in conserving natural populations

Benefit/Benefit/RiskRisk AssessmentAssessment

Risks considered in the project assessment process:

• Partial or total hatchery failure (potential for catastrophic loss of propagated stock)

• Ecological impacts to natural-origin summer chum through• Ecological impacts to natural-origin summer chum through predation, competition, and disease transfer

• Genetic effects to the propagated and un-supplemented l ti ( d ti f ithi d l tipopulations (reduction of within and among population

diversity)• Donor stock risks (numerical reduction or selection effects

through broodstock collection) • Risks to other salmonid populations and species

How To Supplement Or Reintroducepp

Overarching strategiesOverarching strategies• Phased implementation of individual and

regional programsregional programs• Selection and maintenance of non-supplemented

wild populations that comprise a representativewild populations that comprise a representative spectrum of existing diversity

• Allowable fish release levels set to achieve o ab e s e ease e e s set to ac e ehistorical adult run sizes as upper limit for each project.

General “How To” StandardsLoss of genetic variability between populationsLoss of genetic variability between populations

Key standards :• supplementation programs will propagate and release

l th i di l tionly the indigenous population;• transfers of each donor stock for reintroduction will

be limited to only one target watershed, adjacent to the range of the donor stock;

• supplemented and reintroduced populations will be acclimated to the targeted stream;acclimated to the targeted stream;

• for reintroduced populations, foster local adaptationby using returning spawners rather than the original donor population as broodstock; anddonor population as broodstock; and,

• all summer chum produced in hatchery programs will be marked to allow for monitoring and evaluation of d lt tadult returns.

Loss of genetic variability within populations

Key standards:• limit duration of all programs to maximum of three

generations (12 years) to minimize likelihood of divergencegenerations (12 years) to minimize likelihood of divergence between hatchery brood stocks and target natural stocks;

• collect representative brood stock of the naturally spawning d l ti ith t t ti i idonor population with respect to run timing, size, age, sex ratio, and any other traits identified as important for long term fitness;

• use returning adults produced by a program and natural-origin fish as brood stock to increase the effective breeding population size;p p

• apply spawning protocols (Schroeder and Ames 2004) to ensure that hatchery brood stocks are representative of wild stock diversity and to equalize the contributions of parentsstock diversity and to equalize the contributions of parents to the next breeding generation;

• set number of brood stock needed.

“M & E is the key”Monitoring & Evaluation ReportsMonitoring & Evaluation Reportshttp://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/salmon/chum/reports

• Prepare reports to summarize, analyze, and interpret monitoring and evaluation data and suggest necessary program revisionssuggest necessary program revisions.

• M & E reports reviewed and evaluated by the co-USFWS d NOAA Fi h i tmanagers, USFWS, and NOAA Fisheries to assess

the effectiveness and effects of the supplementation and reintroduction programs. pp p g

• Adjustments needed are implemented to meet the objectives of the SCSCI (adaptive mgt)objectives of the SCSCI (adaptive mgt).

Hood Canal summer chum supplementation programs

Brood Year BY first mass

First marked adults BY program

Initiated marking return terminatedProgram

Salmon Creek 1992 1993 1995 2003

Big Quilcene River 1992 1997 2000 2003Big Quilcene River 1992 1997 2000 2003

Lilliwaup Creek 1992 (1998) 1997 2000 [2009]

Chimacum Creek (R) 1996 1999 2002 2003

Big Beef Creek (R) 1996 1998 2001 2004

Hamma Hamma River 1997 1997 2000 2008

Jimmycomelately Creek 1999 1999 2001 2010

Union River 2000 2000 2003 2003

Tahuya River (R) 2003 2003 2006 [2014]

Hood Canal/SJFuca summer chum ESU

Population status is improving and on trajectory for recovery Viable Salmonid Popl’n (VSP) Parameters Abundance has increased Spatial distribution has improved Diversity is maintained and improved

Extinction risk reduce from high to low/mod.• No impact on genetic structure (Small et al. p g (

2009) or effective popl’n size (Ne) (in prep.)• No sig. differences in reproductive success of

SOR vs. NOR summer chum (Berejikian et al. 2008)

Snow Creek Coho SalmonRecovery ProgramRecovery Program

T. Johnson, C. Scalf and S. Schroder

Snow Creek WatershedSnow Creek WatershedSequim Bay

Snow Creek WatershedSnow Creek Watershed

Discovery Bay

Sequim Bay

50 km2 watershedDiscovery Bay

10 miles anad. lengthWDFW upstream/downstreamfish t apping facilities since 1976

Snow

Weirfish trapping facilities since 1976Coho, steelhead, CT, chumNo hatchery

Creek RSI Sites Crocker Lake (25 ac.

Andre s Creek

No hatcheryfish releases

Andrews Creek RSI Site

Trends In AbundanceS C k C h

1400

Snow Creek Coho

10001200 1400

77 Brood line

600800

1000

400 600

78 Brood line

76 Brood line

0 200

76 79 82 85 88 91 94 97

76 Brood line

76 79 82 85 88 91 94 97Return Year

Possible FactorsPossible Factors ffor the Declineor the DeclinePossible Factors Possible Factors ffor the Declineor the Decline

•• OverOver--harvest in U.S. and Canadian harvest in U.S. and Canadian commercial and sport fisheriescommercial and sport fisheries

•• Habitat degradation (freshwater and Habitat degradation (freshwater and ))estuary)estuary)

•• NonNon indigenous warmwater fishes (bassindigenous warmwater fishes (bass•• NonNon--indigenous warmwater fishes (bass, indigenous warmwater fishes (bass, N. pike) in Crocker Lake, an N. pike) in Crocker Lake, an important important cohocoho rearingrearing habitathabitat in watershedin watershedcohocoho--rearing rearing habitat habitat in watershed in watershed

Factors Favoring RecoveryFactors Favoring Recoveryg yg y

•• Reduction in coho harvest due to new USReduction in coho harvest due to new US--•• Reduction in coho harvest due to new USReduction in coho harvest due to new USCanada treaties, fishing regulations, & markCanada treaties, fishing regulations, & mark--selective fisheriesselective fisheries

•• Habitat improvements in the basinHabitat improvements in the basin

•• Eradication of nonEradication of non--indigenous fishes from indigenous fishes from Crocker Lake during lake rehab w/ rotenone, Crocker Lake during lake rehab w/ rotenone, summer 1998summer 1998summer 1998summer 1998

•• After public meetings, initiated coho After public meetings, initiated coho supplementation program fall 1998supplementation program fall 1998supplementation program, fall 1998supplementation program, fall 1998

Supplementation ApproachSupplementation ApproachU d ti S C k h b d t kU d ti S C k h b d t k•• Used native Snow Creek coho as broodstockUsed native Snow Creek coho as broodstock

•• Broodstock represented adult return timing Broodstock represented adult return timing and size age other traitsand size age other traitsand size, age, other traitsand size, age, other traits–– Used all adults if return < 100 adults (1Used all adults if return < 100 adults (1stst years)years)–– Once program adults returned, used SOR and Once program adults returned, used SOR and

NOR adults as broodstockNOR adults as broodstock•• Limited duration of 3 generations (9 years)Limited duration of 3 generations (9 years)•• E t k l d b f fi h l dE t k l d b f fi h l d•• Egg take goal and number of fish released Egg take goal and number of fish released

based on Snow Cr. based on Snow Cr. ssmolt production potentialmolt production potential•• Multiple release strategies and sites:Multiple release strategies and sites:•• Multiple release strategies and sites: Multiple release strategies and sites:

–– RSIs in Snow Cr. RSIs in Snow Cr. aand Andrews Cr., a tributarynd Andrews Cr., a tributary–– Fall release of fingerlings into Crocker LakeFall release of fingerlings into Crocker Lake–– Spring release of preSpring release of pre--smolts into Crocker Lakesmolts into Crocker Lake

•• Monitoring and EvaluationMonitoring and Evaluation

Adult trappingAdult trapping

•• Capture all Capture all returning returning ggcoho adults coho adults at the at the SSSnow Snow Creek weir Creek weir and trapand trapand trapand trap

Captured adults held in tubes Captured adults held in tubes untiluntil maturationmaturationuntil until maturationmaturation

Tubes in trap live box

SpawningSpawning

• By WDFW hatchery staff• Eggs and milt from each fish• Eggs and milt from each fish

are kept separate• Fertilization occurs at WDFW e t at o occu s at W W

Hurd Creek Hatchery

Biological Parameters MeasuredBiological Parameters MeasuredBiological Parameters MeasuredBiological Parameters Measuredon Adult Fishon Adult Fish

BehavioralPhenotypic

Traits Health GeneticArrival timing

Age, wt., length

Fertility Micro-satellite DNA

Spawning date

Egg mass wt, repro effort

Viral screening

Egg size, fecundity

Bacterial screeningfecundity screening

FertilizationFertilization

Each female’s eggs

2 x 2 or 3 x 3 factorialcrosses are made

incubated separately iniso-buckets

crosses are made

Otolith Thermal MarkingOtolith Thermal MarkingOtolith Thermal Marking Otolith Thermal Marking at WDFW Hurd Creek Hatcheryat WDFW Hurd Creek Hatchery

•• Unique codes each Unique codes each brood yearbrood yearbrood yearbrood year

•• Three Three thermal thermal codes used forcodes used forcodes used for codes used for each brood year: each brood year: –– Snow Creek RSISnow Creek RSI–– Andrews Cr RSIAndrews Cr RSI–– Crocker Lake Crocker Lake

llreleasesreleases

Eyed eggs from each Eyed eggs from each ffemale emale allotted into eachallotted into each ttreatmentreatmentallotted into each allotted into each ttreatmentreatment

Feb release

7 – 9K8 – 25K

Andrews Creek RSI

Oct release

8 –25K

7 –9 K

Snow Creek RSISnow Creek RSI

Transfer toTransfer to RSIsRSIsTransfer to Transfer to RSIsRSIs

Andrews Creek RSI Site

Water Clarifier & RSI RSI Outlet

WDFW Hurd WDFW Hurd Creek HatcheryCreek Hatcheryu du d C ee atc e yC ee atc e y

• Nearby Dungeness R. watershed• Applied standard hatchery practices,

but reduced rearing densitiesg

Applied CWTs for fall and Applied CWTs for fall and sspring pring pppp p gp grrearing earing ttreatmentsreatments

OctFeb. releaseOct.

release (snout)

release (AD-fin)( ) fin)

PrePre--smolt introductionssmolt introductionsPrePre smolt introductions smolt introductions into Crocker Lakeinto Crocker Lake

•• PrePre--smolts smolts released into released into Crocker Lake (25 Crocker Lake (25 acres), a acres), a ),),documented documented productive coho productive coho pphabitathabitat

Smolt trapping & evaluationSmolt trapping & evaluationpp gpp g•• Capture all smolts at Capture all smolts at

weirweirweirweir•• Sort by treatmentSort by treatment

•• Check Check with CWT with CWT detector for detector for ‘beeps’‘beeps’

•• HandHand heldheld wandswands•• HandHand--held held wands wands to to det. snout vs. det. snout vs. adipose CWT adipose CWT placementplacement

•• Count and sample Count and sample coho from eachcoho from eachcoho from each coho from each treatmenttreatment

Examining Examining the the Biological Effects Biological Effects of the of the gg ggRecovery Recovery Strategies on Strategies on JUVENILESJUVENILES

For each treatment: b dAbundance

Migration timingg g

Size at smolting

Age at smolting

SurvivalSurvival

Snow Creek coho salmon smolts, Snow Creek coho salmon smolts, 19781978--20112011

l ll lEggEgg--toto--smolt survivalsmolt survival

Strategy Survival

Natural-origin 2 5%Natural origin 2.5%

Remote Site Incubator 7.5%

October release 17.0%

F b l 36 5%February release 36.5%

Examining Examining the the Biological Effects Biological Effects of the of the gg ggRecovery Recovery Strategies on ADULTSStrategies on ADULTS

For each treatment: AbundanceAbundance

Migration timing

In-stream homing

Size at maturityy

Life history types

S lt t d lt i lSmolt-to-adult survival

SamplingSampling Returning AdultsReturning AdultsSampling Sampling Returning AdultsReturning Adults

Capture each fish

I t f CWTInspect for CWTs

Collect scales + DNACollect scales + DNA

Obtain wt., length,, g ,sex, & arrival date

S b l l h ( S O l d )Sub-sample otoliths (RSI vs. NOR, validation)

ll d l ld l lSmoltSmolt--toto--adult survivaladult survival

Strategy Survival

Natural-origin 7 1%Natural origin 7.1%

Remote Site Incubator 10.0%

October release 5.7%

F b l 5 2%February release 5.2%

d l ld l lEggEgg--toto--adult survivaladult survival

Strategy Survival

Natural-origin 0 18%Natural origin 0.18%

Remote Site Incubator 0.75%

October release 0.97%

F b l 1 90%February release 1.90%

Snow Cr. Snow Cr. coho adultscoho adults, , 19771977--20112011wild vs. hatchery compositionwild vs. hatchery composition

Trends in Coho Adult Abundance (by brood line)

1500

2000

Trends In Abundance By Lines1000

1500

500

1000

0

500

76 82 88 94 0076 82 88 94 00

SummarySummary•• Local, native broodstock can be used and collected to Local, native broodstock can be used and collected to

represent entire coho runrepresent entire coho run•• Hatchery programs can be implemented that address Hatchery programs can be implemented that address

hazards and risks to coho salmonhazards and risks to coho salmonhazards and risks to coho salmonhazards and risks to coho salmon•• Programs can be incorporated into existing Programs can be incorporated into existing

hatcheries and utilize expertise of staffhatcheries and utilize expertise of staff•• N t f iliti b d l d th t i i iN t f iliti b d l d th t i i i•• New remote facilities can be developed that minimize New remote facilities can be developed that minimize

risk; partners and volunteers are invaluablerisk; partners and volunteers are invaluable•• Supplementation program contributed to recoverySupplementation program contributed to recovery

–– Each Each coho release coho release strategy produced strategy produced both both (1) juveniles (1) juveniles that could interact successfully with that could interact successfully with thethe environment and (2) effective adult spawnersenvironment and (2) effective adult spawnersthe the environment and (2) effective adult spawnersenvironment and (2) effective adult spawners

–– Adult returns homed to release streams and also Adult returns homed to release streams and also distributed upstream of release sitesdistributed upstream of release sitesC ocke Lake impo tant fo ea ingC ocke Lake impo tant fo ea ing 60% smolts60% smolts–– Crocker Lake important for rearing Crocker Lake important for rearing –– ~60% smolts~60% smolts

•• Addressing harvest and habitat limiting factors also Addressing harvest and habitat limiting factors also contributed to recoverycontributed to recovery

Genetic (DNA) AnalysesGenetic (DNA) Analyses

•• DNA samples collected & archived for all DNA samples collected & archived for all coho adults each year, 1998coho adults each year, 1998--20092009y ,y ,

•• Analyses not done due to lack of fundingAnalyses not done due to lack of funding•• Could assess genetic impacts due toCould assess genetic impacts due to•• Could assess genetic impacts due to Could assess genetic impacts due to

supplementation:supplementation:Track changes in effectiveTrack changes in effective popl’npopl’n size Nesize Ne•• Track changes in effective Track changes in effective popl’npopl’n size, Nesize, Ne

•• Compare empirically derived vs. theoretical Compare empirically derived vs. theoretical estimates of family varianceestimates of family varianceestimates of family varianceestimates of family variance

•• Heritability of traits Heritability of traits

II thth i t t?i t t? l t’ t lk!l t’ t lk!Is Is there there interest? interest? –– let’s talk!let’s talk!

Special thanks to: North Olympic Salmon Coalition, Wild Olympic Salmon all our volunteers andWild Olympic Salmon, all our volunteers, and

the WDFW Hurd Creek and Dungeness Hatchery crews

Hood Canal Hood Canal Steelhead ProjectSteelhead Project

• Collaborative effort• 16 year hatchery experiment• Compare supplemented and non-supplemented streams• Before, during and after supplementation

Features Eyed egg collections from

redds - - allows natural production to remain in the river and provides broad genetic representation

A 2 lt i Age-2 smolt rearing - -maintains natural life history variation

Adult release shown to Adult release - - shown to result in redd production

Hydraulic Redd SamplingHydraulic Redd SamplingBenefits Drawbacks

Can limit # eggs collected/female Unknown damage to non-collected embryos

Broader genetic representation to reach release target

Requires frequent redd surveys and high effort to recover embryos

Natural and mate selection occurs in the wild

Limits on maximum # collected

Requires no weirs or traps and no pre-spawning mortality

Most appropriate for smaller programs (<50,000 eggs)

High embryo survival in hatchery No pathology data on adults

Questions?